16-30+ metres. Very exposed pinnacle with steep walls and regular current. Awesome dive in blue water.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Walls are covered with sponges, hydroids and ascidians that thrive in the passing current. Schools of blue and pink maomao, demoiselles, butterfly perch and trevally. Lots of red moki and leatherjackets feed on the encrusting life and the occasional kingfish or rarely shark or marlin may come past. Often a large stingray population cruises around the pinnacle.

Directions:

10-30 metres.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Reef fish include porcupinefish and scarlet wrasse. Sponges, anemones, ascidians and hydroids below 15 metres on the walls. Keen-eyed photographers will spot up to a dozen nudibranch species here. A few large rock lobster in the cracks including the occasional packhorse lobster. Kingfish common in summer among the baitfish.

Warnings:

Exposed to swells and strong wind with reasonably strong current.

Directions:

0-20 metres. Exposed to easterly wind or swell. Good snorkelling over the reefs including a swim-through.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Colourful walls with plenty of photographic subjects. Red and painte moki, porae, pigfish, John dory and occasional snapper cruise around. Rock lobster usually in the deeper cracks.

Directions:

Southeast side of Middle Island, Alderman Islands.

5-15 metres. Caves with various entries and exits. Can be a bit exposed in swells and strong winds but a really nice dive.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Untold invertebrate life inside the caves, including sponges anemones and nudibranchs. Black angelfish are common and red, painted and blue moki are all seen. Occasional rock lobster in the rear of the caves and cracks along with yellow moray and conger eels.

Directions:

Northwest corner of Hongiora (Flat) Island, Alderman Islands

0-25 metres. Lots of deep canyons.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Apricot and Jason nudibranchs on walls. Schools of maomao, demoiselles and butterfly perch. Kingfish and baitfish schools common in summer. Fur seals often winter over and appear when least expected.

Directions:

Southeast side of Mahurangi (Goat) Island.

0-30 metres. Large rock with swim-throughs and crevices to explore.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Covered in invertebrate life with nice sponge growths in rock crevices. Reef fish are abundant with wrasses, pigfish, marblefish, porae and occasional large blue moki. Schools of baitfish, blue maomao and butterfly perch are all around with kingfish flashing through in summer.

Directions:

North of Mahurangi Island

5-23 metres.
Source: DIVE New Zealand Magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Schools of blue maomao, koheru, mackerel, kahawai and kingfish, especially in summer. Down the colourful walls are mussels, anemones, sponges and nudibranchs. Marblefish and leatherjackets abound on the ledges and a few snapper cruise about. Some big crayfish share the holes with yellow moray eels, red cod and red moki.

Warnings:

0-8 metres. Great snorkelling site, usually quite sheltered. Good site for kids.

Aquatic Life:

Snapper, leatherjackets, parore, spotties and triplefins all close to shore. Rock lobster can be found under the rocks in the shallows and there are a few resident yellow moray eels.

Warnings:

This site is in a no-take marine reserve. Enjoy looking but do not take or disturb the marine life.

Directions:

15 minute walk along the track from the carpark.

0-25 metres.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Kingfish work in baitfish boil-ups, especially in summer. Undulating reef with lots of kelp home to red and painted moki as well as occasional large blue moki. Sandager's wrasses, pigfish, butterfish and porae are also reasonably common. Best invertebrate life on the walls below 15m.

Warnings:

Some shelter from swell but open to west and southerly wind.

Directions:

5km east of Opito Bay